Venture
The first thing Jakobus noticed on waking was the cold.
Bone-chilling dew ran down his collar and seeped into his core, setting him shivering even before he regained consciousness. He cracked open his eyes blearily, staring blankly at the branches surrounding his vision. He tried to roll away from their thorns, only digging more of the sharp barbs deeper into his skin through his cotton coat. It took a moment for him to come to his senses. The second he did, the tension returned to his hardened body.
He was still in the thorn bush he had dived into the night before, where he had cowered from the Englishmen like a cur. Self-loathing rose in him, along with the familiar hatred of the cured Empire forcing him so low in his own country. He would not allow it to continue.
He crawled slowly through the constricting branches, down the embankment behind it, away from the sickening camp and all it represented. But oh, how he swore to return.
*****
Kobus walked. He walked as he had for miles prior, and planned to for miles to come.As the midday sun beat down of him, he dully noted how tired he was. Not physically, years in this terrain doing far more than this made sure of that, but was mentally drained.
Never the less he had to take stock of what had happened over the past few days: He had received orders to return to base, which he disobeyed, He hadn’t been brought up a coward to run. And so, he was ready to kill the manifestation of all his anger, and in one moment, he had lost it to follow a pipe dream. She was gone. He would never see her again. But for half a second he had wished so for her, and he had been captured for his mindlessness. He would not hope again.
The interrogation and beating was nothing akin to the shame of being caught by the scurvy English. However, he had failed to take even one of them, thanks to Her. His thoughts always came back to that angelic figure, who had saved both himself and the British soldier. Why? What good had been done? Both of them planned to kill again. But she saved them nonetheless. And for that, he was thankful to her.
But, at the same time, he was terrified. What was she? what did she mean? Was she an angel, a spirit? Why had she looked at him so deliberately? And then a piece of the night sky itself had cut him a path to safety. More than anything, that was unnerving. If the night was looking out for him, he was pleased, but it could just as easily cut him in half as it had the fence. He owed it respect, now.
He scratched his scraggly beard and slung his rifle more comfortably on his shoulder, still trudging over the crackling grass of the plains. Squinting at the sun, he silently begged it to soften its heat. He didn’t expect the inside of a canvas bag to so totally grant him his wish.
“Jakobus Van der Merwe... I would never of thought you would be a deserter.” a voice from beyond the darkness.
“Now where the hell do you think I was going to you …” Kobus was cut-off by the butt of a mauser.
*****
Kobus was starting to get tired of being knocked out and waking up tied to chairs. It was somewhat of a relief, though, that he had at least been captured by his own side this time. He knew this because the figure before him was none other than General Koos de la Rey.
“Jakobus Van der Merwe, am i correct in asserting that you had received orders to return to base?”
Kobus nodded respectfully. “Yes General”
“And why did you disobey a direct order?”
“I don't remem...”
“DON'T LIE TO ME! Answer the question, Van der Merwe!”
“I wanted to kill the Captain of the camp my wife died in, General.”
“Oh a likely story, and let me guess, you were captured and interrogated, but bravely risked escape?”
“Yes General...”
“Next you’ll be telling angels descended from heaven and aided you!” de la Rey sneered as he paced around the room.
Jobus wisely remained silent this time.
“Do you know what i think Kobus? I think that you honestly did want to kill that captain and that you did get captured. But this is where our two sides of the story differ, you cracked in the interrogation and traded information for your freedom!”
“I would nev...”
“SILENCE khaki dog!” The veteran General grabbed Kobus’ british rifle from a corner and shoved it under the soldier’s nose, “Then tell me why you were captured with a Khaki weapon?”
“I took it from a ... dead English guard”
“of course you did!” de la Rey sighed, suddenly looking tired. He sat in a chair opposite Kobus, his eyes searching the bound man for any sign of foul play.
“How do I tell, Kobus? You could be truthful, a son for the fatherland, but if you are lying, as so many are these days? Of course I can’t trust you. But you may still be of service.” The aging man shouted out, “de Bruin, Come in! It is your turn at this man!”
The door opened to allow the general to leave and a certain Lieutenant de Bruin to enter.
de la Rey simply told de Bruin “I need him alive...”
the Lieutenant walked in and took a seat before simply saying “If you don't answer truthfully, I will have to beat you. Now, state your full name.”
“Jakobus Stervanis Van der Merve”
“Good. Now, where are you from?”
Kobus answered truthfully.
*****
Cold stone met Jakobus’ back as he was dropped onto the bare floor of the holding cell. He sat up and rubbed his hands, finally untied, and nodded to de Bruin in the doorway, and the General behind him. both men doffed their hats politely before the door slammed shut harshly. He crawled into a straw-filled corner and rubbed his face tiredly. de bruin had been calm and thorough, eeking every detail of the camp and its situation from his brain. Jakobus had had to come up with some very fast explanations to the more...miraculous parts of his escape, though. The dishonesty pained him, but how would they have reacted to the truth? No, it was better this way. At least they had decided not to cite him for treason. The worst they would do was discharge him from the army. In that case, he could hunt Luck down without fear of discipline. All he had to do was wait. He tucked himself against the wall, and let himself relax for the first time in days.
He was woken at nightfall by the dull thud of a fist against his door, followed by the jangling of keys. Kobus stood, as he was meant to, and awaited any orders like a soldier should. Even a prisoner should respect the rules. He stood to attention as the door swung open revealing the stocky figure of de Bruin, this time holding a rifle before him. Kobus could see a group of heavily armed men behind the Lieutenant, and gulped. Was this a firing squad? had they changed their minds. His hands started shaking, but he stood strong nonetheless, as a man of his country should. The officer walked into the cell, looking grim and held up the rifle for Kobus’ inspection saying, “What is this, soldier?”
Jakobus trembled, but spoke strongly. “Model ninty-five Mauser bolt action rifle, eight by fifty-seven millimeter, sir. The best gun in the whole Transvaal.”
de Bruin nodded. “Would you be proud to be killed by such a weapon, soldier?”
The tremble finally reached Kobus’ voice. “I would have it no other way, sir.”
de Bruin nodded, looking at the rifle. Then he stood back, allowing Kobus to leave the cell. “After you, Kobus.”
Kobus nodded, and walked out into the group of stoic Boer veterans at the door. They made way for him, watching him closely. de Bruin gestured for Kobus to talk along the hallway, and he complied. He would die with honour if nothing else.
They soon left the veritable fortress overlooking the dim lights of the strategic city of Bloemfontein. In the quadrangle between the building and the dirt road, de Bruin stopped, and gestured to the men behind him, who all raised their rifles and racked the bolts, aiming for Jakobus’ chest.
de Bruin cocked his own rifle and aimed for the lone man standing in the dark. “Are you ready to pay for your crimes, Jakobus Stervanus Van de Merwe?”
Jakobus blinked back a tear. “I will pay what the Nation considers due, sir.”
de Bruin nodded with a slight smile, and settled his aim.
“Three”
Oh god, he was really going to count it down...
“Two”
Jakobus refused to let his eyes shut. he would see the bullets that killed him like a true soldier.
“One”
Jakobus stared past the men aiming for him as he saw their fingers tightening around their triggers
“Fire”
Jakobus flinched, as a series of clicks filled the night air, but his eyes never closed.
de Bruin grinned and stepped forward, opening the bolt and showing Kobus the empty magazine of the rifle, as every man behind him did the same. “You truly are one brave man, Van der Merwe. Here,” de Bruin held out the rifle to the shocked Kobus, “No man can help flinching, but only the best can stare down their death. You are a man of the land. And now, you can have your revenge.”
de Bruin gestured the men behind him, who grinned and saluted. “These are your men, and Luck is your goal. break our families out of that camp, and we can press the war without reprisal. Our army can’t do it, but a small team can. And you’re the man to lead it.”
Jakobus grinned and took the rifle. “Of course sir, it would be my honour!”
de Bruin nodded curtly. “Remember, officially, you died here tonight until you return. This never happened. Go and get ready. You leave in two hours by horse.”
Despite how tired he was, Jakobus saluted and smiled. “A pleasure sir.”
As he walked past the Lieutenant, de Bruin stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “Oh and Kobus...when you take the camp, ask for a Yolandie de Bruin. Please see her back?”
“Of course, sir”
de Bruin nodded again, and with one last look over the assembled men, walked off into the building.
Jakobus stood before his men, waiting on his word. He had one chance, a god-sent gift, and he would never waste it. He racked his rifle and grinned.
“Let’s get going boys, we have families to save.”